Page 1 of 1

homemade rotary-valved sousaphones

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 2:31 pm
by pjv
Has any-one ever tried to make one? (I tried Google to no avail). The reason I ask is because I'm wondering if it's been done successfully and what donor parts were used.

Yes, I'm aware that they've been made by instrument companies on occasion, but none at this time to my knowledge.

For me this is about the German sound coupled with a bellfront marching (standing actually) tuba.

Thanks

Re: homemade rotary-valved sousaphones

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 4:14 pm
by PaulTkachenko
http://www.voigt-brass.de/gxshop/index. ... age=en&=&=" target="_blank

Just getting these guys to make up some new valves for my helicon.

I don't think you will get the sound of a German tuba with a sousaphone body and (more importantly) bell.

I could be wrong though...

Re: homemade rotary-valved sousaphones

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 4:45 pm
by pjv
I know what you mean. Still, I've no idea how much the first half of the instrument (long mouthpipe, large bore, rotary valves) is responsible for creating the typical German sounding tuba. (kind of midi if you think about it).

Re: homemade rotary-valved sousaphones

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 12:12 pm
by tuba-tobias
Dieter Kleine Horst of Gronitz has (had?) one that he uses (used?) with his trad jazz band. Sorry no picture, but it sounded great.

Re: homemade rotary-valved sousaphones

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 1:06 pm
by oedipoes
tuba-tobias wrote:Dieter Kleine Horst of Gronitz has (had?) one that he uses (used?) with his trad jazz band. Sorry no picture, but it sounded great.
There was a picture of Dietrich playing that instrument on the old Gronitz website, but it is no longer there in the new one...

Re: homemade rotary-valved sousaphones

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 3:22 pm
by pjv
Thanks for the tips!